What could be more difficult for a child who has suffered sexual or physical abuse than to have to talk about it?
That's just what most of the kids who come to Michael's House Child Advocacy Center in Fairborn, Ohio are asked to do.
Enter our superhero, Nanook, a yellow lab trained by Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) in Delaware, Ohio.
Saving hearts seems to be a shared activity between pets and their people. Annie’s story is a great example of how Dr. Giatis & ERDF teamed up to save her life.
With the holiday season upon us, many of us will be traveling with our four-legged family members. And just like we all have special needs and considerations when we travel, the same is true for the dogs and cats in our lives. To make the travel as stress-free as possible, keep in mind these tips...
While the humans in our lives have various means of telling us they’re in pain, it’s often harder to detect pain in our four-legged family members. Unfortunately they can’t just use words to tell us. But perhaps even more importantly, their survival instincts compel them to hide their pain. Most animals in pain alter their behavior in some way, though the signs may be quite subtle. Just like in us, the causes of pain can be quite diverse.
April showers may bring May flowers, but for some of our four-legged family members, storms also bring fear and anxiety.
Dogs and cats—and even humans—become afraid during storms with the deafening sounds and light displays. If you have a dog or cat who hides as a storm approaches, trembles, seeks constant attention, drools, or otherwise becomes distraught, it is important to first recognize that this is not out of the ordinary. Yet for some animals, storms can be debilitating.
Dogs (and, yes, even cats) can benefit from working on a treadmill.
Pet water therapy has become the standard of supportive care in a wide variety of circumstances. Has your dog just had hip or knee surgery? Are they getting older and having some trouble with their gait? Is your cat terribly overweight?
Those of us who have pets in our families know there is nothing quite like the unconditional love they provide.
Fur family members often create a special connection with people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Experience and research both suggest that pets can be extremely helpful for those affected by these disorders.
Are you prepared to keep your pets safe?
Although we are unlikely to experience a devastating hurricane here in Ohio, the recent string of horrific hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the Caribbean remind us that disaster preparedness is important. Have you made a plan in case of a chemical spill? How about if your home catches on fire? It’s important to be ready, and plans must include our four legged family members!
Do you live with a senior?
Have you ever had the experience when someone asks you the age of your fur baby, of saying “oh, about four”—only to stop to count, and realize with some trepidation that they’re really eight? As with older family members, our aging pets need special care and considerations. Their needs change too.
Is Your Pet Headed for Developing Diabetes?
Diabetes in dogs and cats is treatable, but if left undetected it can cause blindness, organ damage, and eventually death. Is you pet prone to diabetes? Do you know the signs to watch for? How about what to do if you suspect a problem? Are there preventative steps to take?
For many of us with multi-pet households, we get caught up in the excitement of bringing another dog or cat into the family. Besides the changes a new pet brings for the humans, the changes can be significant to other pets. To help ease that transition, it is important to think about how to introduce the new dog or cat to other animals in the family.
For many of us, the struggle with allergies is all too real. Whether our allergies are seasonal or persist year-round, we have to find ways to cope. Our four-legged family members can suffer from allergies too. Allergens can affect the immune systems of our dogs and cats, but their manifestation may be a bit different than in humans.
For people that have grown up with pets in their homes, you know how truly special our companions can be for us. The bond between us is something unique, and while some people may poke fun at our “obsession” with our pets, for many of us it enriches our lives beyond compare. Pets are cherished members of our families! They provide us with so many great benefits, both within the family and beyond.
If you’re like most people, you’re not excited about going to the dentist. You probably figure your pet won’t be either. Maybe you think you don’t need to worry about their teeth unless they start drooling or cocking their head when eating. Sadly, by then your fur baby is almost certainly in pain… maybe worse.
Article courtesy of Vetstreet.com.
We’ve all been there… your pet seems fine, and then all of a sudden, a new lumpy, bumpy mass pops up on his body, seemingly overnight. Should you be worried?
Sometimes the way our pets give and receive love can be different than with humans. You might think that the best way to your pup’s or kitty’s heart is through their stomach (and you’re not necessarily wrong), but a little too much love in that way is going to have them packing on the pounds quickly!
What if you were living the life of your dreams? You used to be lonely but NOW your favorite people are always around and they’re paying lots of attention to you! OR, what if your nice quiet home has been invaded and you feel like you never get your quiet time alone? Either way, in our fur kids’ lives things are about to drastically change.
It’s early on a Thursday morning and you’re drinking your coffee, reading the news, about to wake the kids, and suddenly you hear the phone ring. It’s the call you’ve been dreading, it’s the vet. They’re calling to tell you that they’ve gotten your pet’s test results back and have diagnosed Fluffy with cancer. Your heart sinks.
If you’ve ever lived with a dog or cat or any pet, you know that blissful feeling of getting home after a stressful day at the office and being greeted by your floof purring loudly or wagging their tail so enthusiastically that their entire body is just along for the ride. Is there really anything better than coming home to your fur kid who’s been waiting for your return all day, and wants to show you nothing but love? I don’t think so!
You’ve spent most of the last several months inside, staying warm, and oftentimes not around many other people. Now that Spring is just around the corner maybe you’re starting to think about all the fun activities you want to do with your fur buddies the second the weather breaks. Should you go camping? Shopping? Swimming? Work out? Go to the beach? Take a hike? Have a picnic? Go on a road trip?
13 year old Whitney had longed for a puppy to join her family for a long time. So this past Spring, she did something about it. She spent her Spring Break researching scientific evidence to back her claim that having a pet is beneficial to kids’ development and really to the health of everyone in the family.
What’s better on a rainy afternoon than perusing your social media and stumbling on a few adorable pet photos? If only some of them were YOUR posts featuring YOUR fur family. Whether you’re using a DSLR camera or a smartphone, taking pics of one pet or several, these suggestions will up your pet photography game! Which ones have you never thought of?
New year, new m…err, fur kid! You know how it goes this time of year, everyone’s starting their new year's resolutions. Common ones include trying to get back on track with your health, trying new things, saving money, etc. But what about your four-legged family members? Have you ever thought about setting some resolutions for them? How about with them? There’s no time like the present to start How many of these can you embrace?
As the tax deadline looms, don’t forget about write-offs that could literally go to the dogs! Whether your adorable pup is on patrol or your cat exploits her gorgeous looks, you may want to read this. Although pets cannot be reported as dependents to the IRS, there are a number of deduction possibilities.
Have you ever wondered what goes into your dog or cat’s food? What about the freshness of it? Do you buy their food based on a cute animal on the front of the bag or the recommendation of your vet? There’s so much to consider when deciding on food for your fur kids. It can feel a bit overwhelming! Here are some ideas that will hopefully move you toward selecting the food that best fits both your pet’s and your needs.
Dogs and cats eat LOTS of things they shouldn’t! We're approaching fall, and outdoor gardening season is about over. Do you garden indoors to keep your spirits up during the winter? If so, it’s important to know which popular houseplants are safe for your fur kids, and which ones spell trouble. Some of the “no-no”s may surprise you.
